1{40 -Oxospiro(indoline-2,3{40 -1{40 H,3H{40 -2-benzoxepine)derivatives and process for the preparation thereof

ABSTRACT

A novel 1&#39;&#39;-oxospiro(indoline-2,3&#39;&#39;-1&#39;&#39;-H,3H&#39;&#39;-2-benzoxepine) derivative having color-developing characteristics when reacted with an electron-receiving substance, e.g., acidic substance, and useful as a coloring material for a pressure-sensitive copying paper, and a process for preparing the derivative by reacting a 2-methylene indoline derivative or its acid addition product, i.e., 2-methyl quaternary indolenium salt with an ophthalaldehydic acid derivative in a solvent under neutral or basic conditions are disclosed.

United States Patent Katsuyama et :1].

May 6, 1975 1 -OXOSPIRO(INDOLINE-2,3' -l 'H,3H -2- BENZOXEPINE )DERIVATIVES AND PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION THEREOF Inventors: Harumi Katsuyama; Histake Ono, both of Saitama, Japan Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Ashigara-shi, Japan Filed: Sept. 8, 1972 Appl. No.: 287,385

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 9, l97l Japan 46-69852 US. Cl. 260/326. S; 117/362; 260/240 D Int. Cl C07d 27/38 Field of Search 260/326. lS

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/l972 Detzenne et al 260/326. X

Primary Examiner-Joseph A. Narcavage Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak [5 7 ABSTRACT 37 Claims, No Drawings 1 1'-OXOSPIRO(INDOLINE-2,3-l'H,3H'-2-BENZOX- EPINE)DER1VATIVES AND PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION THEREOF FIELD OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides novel l'-oxospiro- (indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine) derivatives of the general formulae(1-l), (1-2) and (1-3) wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a nitro 0 group, an alkyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkoxycarbonyl group containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

R is an alkyl group or an aralkyl group represented by the formula {CH X, in which X is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, a phenyl group, a carboxyl group, or an alkoxycarbonyl group containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and m is an integer of from 1 to 4;

R is an alkylene chain containing from l to 5 carbon atoms or a xylylene group;

R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a nitro group;

R and R each is an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms;

Y is an acid radical, and

n is 0 or an integer of l or 2, and processes as described in detail hereinafter for the preparation of these benzoxepine derivatives of the general formulae (1-1), (1-2) and (1-3).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As described above, this invention provides novel I oxospiro(indoline-2,3 '-l H, 3I-l'-2-benzoxepine) derivatives of the general formulae (1-1), (1-2) and (1-3).

The compounds of the general formulae (l-l (1-2) and (1-3) as described above can be prepared by reacting a Z-methylene indoline derivative of the general formula (11), or a precursor thereof of the general formula (111) with an o-phthalaldehydic acid derivative of the general formula (IV) in a solution under neutral or basic conditions in accordance with the following Reaction Schemes (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F).

Reaction Scheme [Al Reaction Scheme B CHO (IV) (IIIl) (1-1) wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a nitro 25 a carboxyl group, or an alkoxycarbonyl group containgroup, an alkyl group containing from I to 3 carbon ing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and m is an integer of atoms, an alkoxyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon from 1 to 4, inclusive; atoms or an alkoxycarbonyl group containing from 2 to R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a nitro 4 carbon atoms; group;

R is an alkyl group or an aralkyl group represented 30 R and R each is an alkyl group containing from 1 by the fonnula (CH X in which X is a hydrogen to 3 carbon atoms; and

lll

atom, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, a phenyl group, Y is an acid radical.

R 4 R4 r H 2 0 /CHO c H C CH CH 2 i c0011 2 N 2 n N 2 3 I (Iv) R (11-2) R Reaction Scheme D2 -2H2O R /R4 R R I HO i 2 H 0-4 CH on COOH 3 2 r1 3 I I LR J R2 R (Iv) (III-2) R R R R 4 4 5 CH=CH mCHAJH I CH C. O N, 2 n N O C/ 1| n H5 3 0 R R o wherein R, is an alkyl group or an aralkyl group repre- 4 and Rs each is an lkyl g 'OHP Cntaining from 1 sented by the formula {GHQ- X, in which X is a hyto 3carbon atoms; and drogen atom, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a phenyl Y is an acid radical. group, a carboxyl group, or an alkoxycarbonyl group Examples of methylene indoline to be used in this incontaining from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, m is an integer of vention which are represented by the general formulae from I to 4 inclusive; (ll-l (ll-2) and (ll-3) are as follows:

R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a nitro Z-Methylene-l,3,3,-trimethylindoline, 5-chloro-2- group; methylene-1,3,3-trimethylindoline, S-ethoxycarbonyl- R, and R, each is an alkyl group containing from 1 Z-methylene-l,3,3-trimethylindoline, Z-methylene-S- to 3 carbon atoms; nitro-l,3,3-trimethylindoline, I-(y-cyanopropyl)-3,3-

Y is an acid radical, and n is 0 or an integer of l or dimethyl-Z-methyleneindoline, 3,3-dimethyl- 2 Z-methylenel -(p-nitrobenzyl )indoline, 5,5 '-bis( 2- Reaction Scheme E R {R5 -2H2O ,n 2 i H2C{ CH2 \COOH N R3 1 Reaction Schorm l1 R R 2X20 o R R 1 R R U i a. c l 0H 5 00R N M QT L 3 (Iv) a R 1 1 R 4 R CH=CIL CH=OH r I Q CO N l R I l 5 O i i (L 3 wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, 8 nitro methylene-l,3,3-trimethylindoline), 1,1 '-tetramegroup, an alkyl group containing from I to 3 carbon thylenebis(5-chloro-3,3- atoms, an alkoxyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon dimethyl-2-methyleneindoline), l,l atoms, or an alkoxycarbonyl group containing from 2 methylenebis(3,3-dimethyl-Z-methyleneindoline), 1,!- t0 4 ar n at m '-tetramethylenebis(3,3-dimethyl-2- R is an alkylene chain containing from 1 to 5 carbon methyleneindoline), l,l '-ethylenebis( 3,3-dimethyl-2- atoms or a xylylene group; methyleneindoline), 5,5 '-bis( l-7-cyanopropyl-3,3-

R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a nitro dimethyl-Z-methyleneindoline),5 ,5'- group; ethylenebisQ-methyleneJ ,3,3-tr1methyl|ndol|ne 1,1 '-xylylenebis (3,3-dimethyl-2-methyleneindoline), l,l '-tetramethylenebis- (5 -ethoxycarbonyl-2-methylene-1,3,3- trimethylindoline l,l '-ethylenebis( 5-chloro-2- methylenel ,3,3-trimethylindoline), 5 ,5 rnethylenebis( l -ethyl-3,3-dimethyl-2- methyleneindoline), etc.

The quaternary indolenium salts which are acid addition salts of the methyleneindolines of the general formulae (lll-l (Ill-2) and (Ill-3) include, for example, in addition to the acid addition salts of the methyleneindolines listed above, those acid addition salts of other indolines, such as l-ethyl-2,3,3,5- tetramethylindolenium iodide, l-ethyl-2,3,3- trimethylindolenium iodide, 1,2,3 ,3 ,5- pentamethylindolenium-p-tosylate, l-ethyl-5- methoxy-Z ,3,3-trimethylindolenium iodide, 1-( B- hydroxyethyl)- 2,3,3-trimethylindolenium bromide, l-(B-carboxyethyl)2,3,3 trimethylindolenium bromide l-( B-ethoxycarbonylethyl )-2 ,3 ,3- trimethylindolenium bromide, 5,5- methylenebis( l ,2,3,3,-tetramethylindolenium-ptosylate) etc.

The o-phthalaldehydic acid derivatives of the general formula (IV) include, for example, o-phthalaldehydic acid, 5Tchloro-o-phthalaldehydic acid, 3-nitro-ophthalaldehydic acid etc. It is to be noted that the corresponding mand pphthalaldehydic acid derivatives cannot be used in the present invention.

The 5-chlor0-o-phthalaldehydic acid can be obtained by brominating fi-chlorophthalide at its 3-position with N-bromosuccinimide, then hydrolyzing the resulting product. Also, the substituent R in the formula (IV) can easily be arranged by those skilled in the art.

The 3-nitro-o-phthalaldehydic acid can be obtained by nitrating o-phthalaldehydic acid.

The compounds of the general formulae (1-! (l-2) and (l3) provided by the present invention are exemplified as follows: 1 -xo-l ,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline- 2,3 '-1H,3H-2-benzoxepine), S-chloro-l -oxo-l ,3,3- trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3'-l 'H,3l-l'-2-benzoxepine), S-ethoxycarbonyll -oxol ,3,3- trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine), S-nitro-l -oxol ,3,3- trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine),

l,3,3 ,5-tetramethyl-spiro( indoline-2,3 -1'H,3H-2- benzoxepine -methoxyl '-oxo-l ,3,3- trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine), S-ethoxy-l '-oxol ,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 l'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine), 8'-chlorol '-ox0- l ,3,3- trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 '-l H,3H'-2-benzoxepine), l-y-cyanopropyl-3,3-

dimethyl-l '-oxospiro(indoline-2,3'- l 'H,3l-l'-2- benzoxepine), 1B-

hydroxyethyl-3,3-diethyl-l '-oxospir0(indoline-2,3'- 1H,3H-2-benzoxepine), l-B-ethoxycarbonyl-3,3- diethyl-l -oxospiro(indoline 2,3'-l 'H,3H'-2- benzoxepine), l-B-hydroxycarbonyl-3 ,3-dimethyl-6'- nitro-l '-oxospiro( indoline-2,3'-l'H,3H'-2- benzoxepine), l-benzyl- 3,3-dimethyi-l -oxospiro( indoline-2,3-l 'H,3H'-2- benzoxepine), l-p-nitrobenzyl-3,B-dimethyl- I benzoxepine bis[ 1-'y-cyanopropyl-3,3-dimethyl-l '-oxospir0( indoline-2,3'-l 'l-l,3H'-2-benzoxepine) 5 ,5 methylenebis[ l -oxo-l ,3,3-

trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine) 5,5

methylenebis[ 8 '-chlorol '-oxol ,3,3-trimethylspiro(ind0line-2,3 l 'H,3H'-2- benzoxepine)], 5 ,5 '-methylenebis[ 8 '-chlorol '-oxol ,3 ,3-trimethylspiro( indoline- 2,3'-1'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine)], 0x0- 1 ,3,3- trimethylspiro(indoIine-2,3 l 'H,3H'-2- benzoxepine)],

ethylenebis- 5,5 "-ethylenebis[ l benzoxepine)], 1 ,l "-ethylenebis[ 1 '-ox0- 1 ,3,3,5- tetramethylspiro(indoline-2,3 -1 'H,3H -2- benzoxepine)], 1,1 "ethylenebisl 5-chloro-l '-oxo- 1,3,3-

trimethylspiro( indoline-2,3 l H,3H"2- benzoxepine tetramethylenebis[ I -oxo-l ,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3'-l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine)], 1,1 tetramethylenebis[ I '-oxo-1,3,3,5- tetramethylspiro(ind0line-2,3'-l 'l-l,3l-l'-2- benzoxepine)],

tetramethylenebis[ S-ethoxycarbonyl-I '-oxo-l ,3 ,3- trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3'-l H,3H-2-benzoxepine)], 1,] "-pxylylenebis[ l oxol ,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 -l 'H,3H'-2 benzoxepine)], l, l "-m-xylylenebis[ l -0xol ,3 ,3- trimethylspiro( indoline-2 ,3

I 'H,3H-2-benzoxepine)], etc.

An object of the present invention is to provide 1'- oxospiro(indoline-2,3'-l l-l,3H'-2-benzoxepine) derivatives which have a novel skeletal structure and which can be used as color-generating materials for a pressure-sensitive copying paper which develops its color by reacting with an electron-receiving substance and processes for their preparation.

The pressure-sensitive duplicating paper usually contains color-generating material which develops its color upon reacting with an electron-receiving substance, in other words, an acidic substance. The compound of the present invention also is believed to generate color by the extension of the conjugation system caused by the dissociation of the spiro linkage as illustrated in the following reaction scheme (G).

Reaction Scheme flGl The compound of the present invention, i.e., l'- 2 oxospiro( indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepines) can be prepared by either reacting o-phthalaldehydic acid with the above-described 2-methylene-indoline derivatives under neutral condition, or with the 2- methylindolenium salts, i.e., the acid addition products of the 2-methylene-indoline derivatives, under basic conditions, as solution thereof in solvents illustrated hereinafter, at a temperature of from 20 to 200C for the period of from 5 minutes to 10 hours. The reaction is preferably carried out by heating the reaction mixture at from 30 to 100C for the period of from 10 to 60 minutes.

The concentration of each of the reactants in the solvent can range from 0.l to 40% by weight, preferably from 1 to 20% by weight.

The molar ratio of the compound (l]l or (Ill-1) to the compound (IV) can range from 0.] to 10 mol preferably from 0.5 to 5 mol and the molar ratio of the compound (ll-2), (ll-3 (Ill-2) or (lll3) to the compound (lV) can range from 0.05 to 5 mol preferably from 0.25 to 2.5 mol NHNH Q 2 1 COOH Suitable solvent which can be used in carrying out the reaction includes alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, etc., ethers such as diethyl ether, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, etc., halogenated paraffinic hydrocarbons such as methylene dichloride,

2S chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, etc., paraffinic hy drocarbons such as n-hexane, cyclohexane, n-heptane, etc., and aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, etc. These solvents can be used either alone or as a mixture of two or more thereof. The particularly preferred solvent is tetrahydrofuran, methanol or ethanol.

Suitable bases which can be added include triethylamine, tributylamine, piperidine, morpholine, pyridine compounds.

The compounds of the general formulae (ll-l) and (llll) used as starting materials of Reaction Schemes A and B, respectively, can be prepared by the following reaction scheme:

R 5 R T-ficn AlCl ,ZnC1 etc. R 5 YR H5 R R base 4 5 wherein R,, R R R and Y as defined above.

In the above reaction scheme, the substituted phenylhydrazine (a) is reacted with a ketone (b) to give the corresponding phenylhydrazone (c). The resulting phenylhydrazone (c) is then converted into the corre sponding indolenine (d) using Lewis acid such as aluminum chloride, zinc chloride, etc. as a catalyst according to the Fischers Indole Synthesis Method described in W. C. Sumpter & F, M. Miller, Heterocyclic Compounds with Indole and Carbazole System, (i954), pages 3-23, published by lnterscience Publishing Inc. The indolenine (d) obtained above can then be quaternarized with an alkylating agent to give the desired indolenium salt (lll-l The indolenium (lll-l) can be treated with a base to obtain the desired indoline (ll-l The compounds of the general formulae (III-3) and (ll-3) used as starting materials of Reaction Schemes F and E, respectively, can be prepared by the following reaction scheme:

Next, the description will be made hereinafter with regard to the chemical structure of the compound of the present invention, i.e., loxospiro(indoline-2,3'- l'l-l,3H'-2-benzoxepine) derivatives. Since this group of compounds is literally unknown, the structure thereof has been determined according to the results of measurements using various instrumental analyses involving elementary analysis, the infrared absorption spectrum, the ultraviolet visible light absorption spectrum, and the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (NMR).

The analytical determination of the structure of the compound (1), taking the product prepared from 2- methylene- 1,3,3-trimethylene indoline and ophthalaldehydic acid as an example, will be discussed in detail hereinbelow. This compound is a colorless crystal melting at l89-190C and confirmed, as a re- 20 sult of an elementary analysis, to be a dehydrated con- .y-CH 2 \N/ 3 +Y R6 Y R4 R R4 R5 base a HO 2Y -7 5 5 t N N wherein R,, R R R and Y are as defined above.

densation product having the following elementary In the above reaction scheme, the bis-indolenium salt 55 composition:

Elementary Analysis Calculated Found C 78.66 78.88 H 6.27 6.12 N 4.59 4.56

Moreover, the compound (1) exhibits in its infrared absorption spectrum, absorptions at 1738, 1060cm, which the value coincides with that of lactones, and indicates absorption of carbon-carbon double bonds at Moreover, the measurement with the NMR spectrum in Hexadeuterobenzene solution using tetramethyl silane as internal standard indicated the presence of adjacent methyl groups at the 3-position of indoline at 1.42 ppm and 1.52 ppm as a non-equivalent single line, and an N-methyl group at 2.43 ppm together with a vinyl hydrogen at the 4,5-position of the oxepine at 3.97 ppm and 6.26 ppm with a coupling constant of l 1.0 Hz were also found.

The results of these various spectra demonstrates that the structure of the compound (1) of the present invention is represented by the previously described 1'- oxol ,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 '-l 'l-l,3l-l'-2- benzoxepine).

The process of the present invention will be further explained in greater detail by reference to the following examples. Unless otherwise indicated all parts and percents are by weight.

EXAMPLE 1 To 30 ml of ethanol were dissolved 1.73 g of 2- methylene-l,3,3-trimethylindoline and 1.50 g. of ophthalaldehydic acid and the resulting solution was heated under reflux. After minutes, the precipitation of crystals was observed and the reaction terminated after 1 hour. After the resulting solution was allowed to cool, the crystals precipitated were recovered by filtration and recrystallized from an ethanol-acetone mixture to give 2.85 g. of colorless crystals, the composition of which coincides with the compound (1), i.e., l'-oxol ,3,3- trimethylspiro( indoline-2,3 '-l 'H-3l-l'-2-benzoxepine having the abovedescribed physical properties, in a yield of 93%.

Similarly, various methylene indolines were reacted with o-phthalaldehydic acid derivatives under similar reaction conditions to give spiro(indoline-2,3'- l'l-I,3H'-2-benzoxepine) (l-l), i.e., compounds 5 (2)-(7) in high yields respectively. The results ob tained are given in Table 1.

EXAMPLE 2 into ml of ethanol were dissolved 3.47 g. of 1- ethyl-2,3,3-trimethylindolenium iodide and 1.50 g of o-phthalaldehydic acid, and the resulting solution was refluxed together with 1.5 g of triethylamine. After 1 15 hour, the reaction product was allowed to cool and then the crystals separated were recovered by filtration followed by recrystallization from ethanol-acetone to give 3.0 g. of colorless granular crystals of 3,3-

0 dimethyll ethyl-l '-oxospiro(indoline-2,3 -1 'l-l,3l- '-2- benzoxepine), compound (8) in a yield of 92%. The melting point of this compound (8) was l92-193C.

Elementary Analysis According to the infrared absorption spectrum, the

stretching vibration of the lactone was l745cm.

Next, various indolenium salts and o-phthalaldehydic acid derivatives were reacted under similar conditions to give spiro(indoline-2,3'-l'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine) in 40 high yields. The results obtained are given in Table 2.

Table 1 Com- Substituents Melting Yield pound No. R R R. R R Point 2 5-01 -C'H -H CH --CH 194-195 88 3 5-OCOC H, -CH -H --CH CH 195-196 88 4 -5-NO -CIH -H -CH -CH 254-255 64 I 5 -H -CH -8'-Cl -CH -(IH 180-182 6 -H (CH CD? -H --CI-I -CH -126 6 6 7 -H -CH NO -H --CH CH -155 77 Table 2 Com- Substituent Groups Melting Yield pound No. R R R R R Point W5 K%T 9 -5-CH 43 1-1 -H -OH --CH 109-110 45 1O -5-OCH -C H -H CH -CH 183-184 '72 Table 2 Continued 11 -H (CH Oh H CH CH 189-190 58 o 12 -H -(CH COO:I 6 N CH CH 1,5 196 43 15 H -(CH COO -H -CH -CH 154-155 52 EXAMPLE 3 According to the infrared absorption spectrum, the

. In 60 m1 of mehano], 3.44 g of 5,5, biS(2 methy1ene stretching vibration of the lactone was 1740 cm 1,3,3-trimethylindoline) and 3.00 g of 0- XAMPLE 5 phthalaldehydic acid were reacted in a manner similar In 0 1 Methanol there were reacted 9 g f 1 1- to that employed in Example I to give 5.40 g (yield=88%) of crystalline 5,5-bis[1'-oxo-l,3,3- trimethylspiro (indoline-Z ,3 -1H,3H'-2- tetramethylenebis( 3 ,3-dimethyl-Z-methyleneindoline) benzoxepinen, compound (14) which was thereafter with 1.5 g of o-phthalaldehydic acid in a similar manner recrystallized from ethyl alcohol-tetrahydrofuran to fiiggg i m Exaflple 1 to g l 1 I o o g yle 0 l O give color ess crystals melting at O 262 C tetramethylenebls [3,3-dimethyl-l '-oxospiro(indoline-2,3'-l 'H,3l- '-2- benzoxepine)], compound (l6), as crystals which were Elementary Analysis thereafter recrystallized from ethyl alcohol- Calculated Found tetrahydrofuran to give colorless crystals melting at 236-237C. C 7392 73,95 The value of the stretching vibration in the infrared H 595 absorption spectrum was 1745 cm. N Under the same reaction conditions, indolines dimerized at the nitrogen atom were reacted with o- The value of the stretching vibration of the lactone phthalaldehydic acid to give bisspiro(indoline-2,3'-

measured by infrared absorption spectrum was l'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine) (l-3) in a good yield. The rel743cm. sults obtained are given in Table 3.

Tablel Com- Substituent Groups Melting Yield pound No R R R R R Point l J; i

17 H -(CH -H -CH CH 215-217 90 18 --H -CH -CH -H -O'H 4H 250-252 96 EXAMPLE 4 While the invention has been described in detail and l'H,3H-2-benzoxepine)], compound (15), having a 60 melting point of 235-236C.

Elementag Analysis Calculated Found C 79.07 79.05 H 6. 15 6.21 N 10.28 [027 in terms of specific embodiments thereof it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A l-oxospiro(indoline-2,3 '-1'H,3H'-2- benzoxepine) compound of the formula:

CH=CH 'ii N R I 0 5 Continued R R R 1 R 5 CO O- C 5 i I R (III 1) wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a nitro group, an alkyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or an alkoxycarbonyl group containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

R is an alkyl group or an aralkyl group represented by the formula -(CH X, in which x is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, a nitro phenyl group, a carboxyl group, or an alkoxycan bonyl group containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and m is an integer of from 1 to 4;

R is an alkylene chain containing from I to carbon atoms or a xylylene group;

R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or :1 nitro group;

R and R each is an alkyl group having from I to 3 carbon atoms; and

n is 0 or an integer of l or 2.

2. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is oxo-l ,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3H-2- benzoxepine).

3. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is l,3,3,-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 -i H,3H'-2- benzoxepine).

4. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is S-ethoxycarbonyl-l '-oxo-l ,3 ,3- trimethylspiro( indoline-2,3 '-l H,3l-l-2-benzoxepine 5. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is S-nitro-l -oxo-1,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 l'H,3l-l-2-benzoxepine).

6. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 8-chloro-I -oxo-1,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 lH,3H-2-benzoxepine).

7. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyll -('y-cyanopropyl )-l '-oxospiro( indoline-2,3 '-l H,3H'-2-benzoxepine).

8. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyll -(p-nitrobenzyl)-l oxospiro(indoline-2,3-l 'H,3H-2-benzoxepine).

9. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyll -ethyl-1 '-oxospiro( indoline-2,3 1'H,3H-2-benzoxepine).

10. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is l-ethyl-l '-oxo-3,3,5-trimethylspiro(indoline- 2,3 '-1'l-l,3H'-2-benzoxepine).

11. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyll -ethyl-5-methoxy-l oxospiro(indoline-2,3 -l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine 12. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is W 3 ,3; dimethyll B-hydroxyethyl )-l '-oxospiro( indoline- 2,3'-l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine).

13. The compound of claim I, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyll -(B-carboxyethyl)-6 '-nitro-1 oxospiro( indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine 14. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyl-(B-carbethoxyethyl )-1 oxospiro( indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine 15. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 5 ,5 -bis(l-oxo-1,3 ,3 -trimethylspiro(ind0line-2,3

] 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine)].

16. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 5,5" methylenebis-[ l '-oxo-l ,3,3- trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3 l'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine)].

17. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is l,1 "-tetramethylene-bis[3,3-dimethyll oxospiro(indoline-2,3 -l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine) 18. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 1,1 -ethylenebis[3,3-dimethyl-1 oxospiro(indoline-2,3-l 'H,3H'-2 benzoxepine)].

19. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 1,1 '-xylylenebis[3,3-dimethyl-l oxospiro( indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3H '-2-benzoxepine 20. A process for the preparation of a 1'- oxospiro( indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3H '-2-benzoxepine) derivative represented by the general formula:

cohols, ethers, halogenated paraffmic hydrocarbons,

paraffinic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof, the reaction being conducted under neutral conditions for said Z-methyleneindoline derivative of the general formula:

of claim 1, which comprises reacting a 2-10 methyleneindoline derivative of the general formula:

and under basic conditions for said 2- methylindolenium salt derivative of the general for- R R mula:

or a Z-methylindolenium salt derivative of the general formula:

with said reaction being conducted at a temperature of from 20 to 200C for a period of from 5 minutes to 10 hours, the molar ratio of said Z-methyleneindoline derivative or said Z-rnethylidolenium salt derivative to with o-phthalaldehydic acid derivative of the general said O-Phihfllfldei'lYCllC acid derivative ranging fl'OlTl 0.] to 10 mol%, the concentration of each of the reactants formula:

in said solvent ranging from 0.1 to 40% by weight, and said basic conditions comprise conducting the process H0 in the presence of at least one base selected from the 40 group consisting of amines, alkali metal hydioxides,

i and basic metal salts.

COOH 21. A process for the preparation of a l'-' R 0xospiro( indoline-2,3 '-l H,3H'-2-benzoxepine) deriv- 3 ative represented by the general formula:

R R R R 4 CH=C mean 4 5 I CH 2 n o c R V N l l 3 3 0 l 2 wherein R R R R R and Y are defined in claim of claim 1, which comprises reacting a dimerized 2- l, in a solvent selected from the group Consisting of almethyleneindoline derivative of the general formula:

2 1 22 or a dimerized Z-methylindolenium salt derivative of with said reaction being conducted at a temperature of the general formula: from 20 to 200C for a period of from minutes to with a o-phthalaldehydic derivative of the general forhours, the mOlar ratio Of Said dimerized l methyleneindoline derivative or said dimerized 2- methyleneindolineum salt derivative to said 0- phthaladehydic acid derivative ranging from 0.05 to 5 mol%, the concentration of each of the reactants in said solvent ranging from 0.1 to by weight, and 0 said basic conditions comprise conducting the process in the presence of at least one base selected from the group consisting of amines, alkali metal hydroxides, c005 and basic metal salts.

22. A process for the preparation of a 1'- 25 oxospiro( indoline-2,3 '-l 'H,3]-l'-2-benzoxepine) deriv- 3 ative represented by the following general formula:

CHO

CH=CH 0 N ll 3 3 i L 5 I wherein R R R R,,, Y and n are as defined in claim of claim I, which comprises reacting a dimerized 2 I in a solvent selected from the group consisting of 0 methyleneindoliie derivative of the general formula: cohols, ethers, halogenated parafi'mic hydrocarbons, 5 4 R 4 paraffinic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof, the reaction being conducted under 23 =CH neutral conditions for said dimerized methyleneindo- N I H 2 line derivative of the general formual: R

W N l I R R 2 and under basic conditions for said dimerized meor a dimerized 2-methylindolenium salt derivative of thyleneindoline derivative of the general formula: the general formula:

R R R R 5 C H H O 11 i N 1 l ZY l R R 2 R 24 1 R R 5 t CH 3 N R I 2r" with a o-phthalaldehydic acid derivative of the general 2-methyleneindoline derivative or said dimerized 2- formula: methyleneindolineum salt derivative to said O- phthaladehydic acid derivative ranging from 0.05 to 5 mol%, the concentration of each of the reactants in t 5 said solvent ranging from 0.1 to 40% by weight, and CH said basic conditions comprise conducting the process in the presence of at least one base selected from the group consisting of amines, alkali metal hydroxides, COOH and basic metal salts. R 0 23. The process of claim 20, wherein said 1'- 3 oxospiro( indoline-2,3 ',l H,3H'-2-benzoxepine) derivative is:

H 0 CH wherein R,, R R R R and Y are as defined in claim l in a solvent selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, halogenated paraffinic hydrocarbons, paraffinic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and O--C mixtures thereof, the reaction being conducted under N R neutral conditions for said dimerized 2- R 0 methyleneindoline derivative of the general formula: 2

and under basic conditions for said dimerized 2- 24. The process of claim 21, wherein said I'- methylindolenium salt, derivative of the general foroxospiro(indoline-2,3'-1H,3H' 2-benzoxepine) derivmula: ative is:

H C (ll-I CH=CH c o N R l l with said reaction being conducted at a temperature of 25. The process of claim 22, wherein said l'-0xosfrom 20 to 200C for a period of from 5 minutes to 10 piro(indoline-2,3-l 'H,3H'-2-benzoxepine) derivative hours, the molar ratio of said dimerized is:

H O CH R 0 CH-CH CH=CH I N C o L R l u R 0 0 26. The process of claim 20, wherein said 2- 5 4 methyleneindoline derivative has the general formula:

R1 31. The process of claim 22, wherein said dimerized 2 2-methylene derivative has the general formula:

H C N 21' 27. The process of claim 20, wherein said 2- 32. The process of claim 20, wherein said amine is methylindolenium salt derivative has the general forselected from the group consisting of triethylamine, trimula: butylamine, piperidine, morpholine and pyridine.

33. The process of claim 21, wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of triethylamine, tributylamine, piperidine, morpholine and pyridine.

34. The process of claim 22, wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of triethylamine, tributylamine, piperidine, morpholine and pyridine.

35. The process of claim 20, wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and wherein said basic alkali metal salt is sodium acetate.

36. The process of claim 21, wherein said alkali metal 28. The process of claim 21, wherein said dimerized hydroxide is Selected from the group consisting of so- Z-methyleneindoline derivative has the general fordium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and wherein said mulal 7 basic alkali metal salt is sodium acetate.

37. The process of claim 22, wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and wherein said basic alkali metal salt is sodium acetate.

29. The process of claim 21, wherein said dimerized 2-methylindolenium salt derivative has the general formula:

R 2 30. The process of claim 22, wherein said dimerized Z-methylene derivative has the general formula: 

1. A 1''-OXOSPIRO(INDOLINE-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2-BENZOXEPINE) COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA:
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is oxo-1,3, 3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine).
 3. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 1,3,3,-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine).
 4. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 5-ethoxycarbonyl-1''-oxo-1,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2 -benzoxepine).
 5. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 5-nitro-1''-oxo-1,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine).
 6. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 8''-chloro-1''-oxo-1,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine).
 7. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyl-1-( gamma -cyanopropyl)-1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H, 3H''-2-benzoxepine).
 8. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyl-1-(p-nitrobenzyl)-1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2 -benzoxepine).
 9. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyl-1-ethyl-1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine).
 10. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 1-ethyl-1''-oxo-3,3,5-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine).
 11. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyl-1-ethyl-5-methoxy-1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2 -benzoxepine).
 12. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyl-1-( Beta -hydroxyethyl)-1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H, 3H''-2-benzoxepine).
 13. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyl-1-( Beta -carboxyethyl)-6''-nitro-1''-oxospiro(indoline-2, 3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine).
 14. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 3,3-dimethyl-( Beta -carbethoxyethyl)-1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H, 3H''-2-benzoxepine).
 15. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 5,5''''-bis(1-oxo-1,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine)).
 16. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 5,5''''-methylenebis-(1''-oxo-1,3,3-trimethylspiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2 -benzoxepine)).
 17. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 1,1''''-tetramethylene-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H, 3H''-2-benzoxepine)).
 18. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 1,1''''-ethylenebis(3,3-dimethyl-1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2 -benzoxepine)).
 19. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is 1,1''''-xylylenebis(3,3-dimethyl-1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2 -benzoxepine)).
 20. A process for the preparation of a 1''-oxospiro(indoline-2, 3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine) derivative represented by the general formula:
 21. A process for the preparation of a 1''-oxospiro(indoline-2, 3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine) derivative represented by the general formula:
 22. A process for the preparation of a 1''-oxospiro(indoline-2, 3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine) derivative represented by the following general formula:
 23. The process of claim 20, wherein said 1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3'',1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine) derivative is:
 24. The process of claim 21, wherein said 1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine) derivative is:
 25. The process of claim 22, wherein said 1''-oxospiro(indoline-2,3''-1''H,3H''-2-benzoxepine) derivative is:
 26. The process of claim 20, wherein said 2-methyleneindoline derivative has the general formula:
 27. The process of claim 20, wherein said 2-methylindolenium salt derivative has the general formula:
 28. The process of claim 21, wherein said dimerized 2-methyleneindoline derivative has the general formula:
 29. The process of claim 21, wherein said dimerized 2-methylindolenium salt derivative has the general formula:
 30. The process of claim 22, wherein said dimerized 2-methylene derivative has the general formula:
 31. The process of claim 22, wherein said dimerized 2-methylene derivative has the general formula:
 32. The process of claim 20, wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of triethylamine, tributylamine, piperidine, morpholine and pyridine.
 33. The process of claim 21, wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of triethylamine, tributylamine, piperidine, morpholine and pyridine.
 34. The process of claim 22, wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of triethylamine, tributylamine, piperidine, morpholine and pyridine.
 35. The process of claim 20, wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and wherein said basic alkali metal salt is sodium acetate.
 36. The process of claim 21, wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and wherein said basic alkali metal salt is sodium acetate.
 37. The process of claim 22, wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and wherein said basic alkali metal salt is sodium acetate. 